Arch Manning, Texas 2026 predictions, odds: Dont expect a bounce-back campaign

Arch Manning and Texas were a disappointment in 2025.There’s no getting around that.

But that’s only part of the story.Because if you were paying attention after everybody else abandoned the Hook’em bandwagon after a loss to Florida in early October, you would have been encouraged with what you saw.Manning was one of the best quarterbacks in college football down the stretch, and the Longhorns ended their 2025 campaigns with seven wins from eight, including triumphs over Oklahoma, Vanderbilt, Texas A&M, and Michigan.There was reason to be excited about what was to come from Texas, especially with Manning returning.

Optimism grew further when Steve Sarkisian was able to recruit two terrific tailbacks, Arizona State’s Raleek Brown and NC State’s Hollywood Smothers, from the portal.Cam Coleman, one of the nation’s most exciting wide receivers, also joined the party.There is tremendous upside in Austin, once again.

The oddsmakers have taken note, as the Longhorns (+300) are essentially co-favorites with Georgia (+280) to win the SEC, and they’re tied with Indiana as the third choice to win the national championship at +750.But the problem is the same as it was last year.The Longhorns will need to be pretty close to perfect to make the College Football Playoff, as they have an absolute beast of a schedule to deal with this season.By Halloween, Texas will have hosted Ohio State, Ole Miss, and Florida, and visited Tennessee and Oklahoma.

That doesn’t mention their trip to LSU in November, or their season finale at Kyle Field against Texas A&M.Overall, ESPN ranks Texas’ strength of schedule as the third-toughest in the country, only trailing Arkansas and Oklahoma.

There’s the break when you bolt the relatively friendly confines of the Big 12 for the SEC.Catch up on The Post’s college football betting predictions and previews for the 2026 seasonWith Manning as the headliner, and a program that has become one of the sport’s biggest headlin...